This May, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, join the Wellness Pet “Minutes That Matter” Challenge — a month-long invitation to move more, feel better, and deepen the bond you share with your pet. This challenge is designed to highlight how regular activity with your pet supports both physical and mental wellbeing.
At Wellness Pet, we believe good health is a shared journey. Pets bring routine, joy, and purpose to our days, and pairing movement with companionship makes staying active easier and more enjoyable. The challenge encourages you to accumulate 250 active minutes with your pet throughout May — whether that means walking, running, hiking, playing fetch, or any other form of movement that gets you both moving.
Why Focus on Mental Health Now?
Everyday life brings stress, distractions, and pressure. Simple habits — breathing deeply, stepping outside, and moving with a pet — can have an outsized impact on mood and stress. Exercise for mental health doesn’t require a gym membership: a brisk walk around the neighborhood, a romp in the backyard, or a hike through the woods all count. These activities can lower cortisol, increase endorphins, improve sleep, and help you be more present.
Pets naturally pull us into the moment. Their curiosity and enthusiasm invite play, reduce feelings of isolation, and create opportunities for connection. The Minutes That Matter Challenge puts these benefits into practice by turning small, consistent moments of activity into meaningful support for mental health.
What Is the Minutes That Matter Challenge?
The challenge is straightforward: log 250 minutes of activity with your pet during May. Activities that count include, but aren’t limited to:
- Morning or evening walks around your neighborhood
- Weekend hikes in parks or nature preserves
- Play sessions in the backyard, such as fetch or tug
- Active volunteering at a shelter or walking a friend’s dog
- Gentle movement for people with limited mobility, with a pet nearby for companionship
Every minute contributes to your wellbeing and helps strengthen the routine of daily movement. Tracking your minutes also creates encouragement and accountability, making it easier to turn small efforts into lasting habits.
Prizes and Rewards
To celebrate participation, Wellness Pet is offering rewards for those who complete the challenge and log their activity. Participants who finish the 250 active minutes and register their progress will receive a $5 promo code for Wellness Pet products. In addition, three completed participants will be randomly selected to win a Grand Prize Wellness Pet Active Wellbeing package, which includes:
- $250 worth of Wellness Pet products
- $250 Visa gift card
- Wellness-branded gear to support your active lifestyle
These rewards are a way to support both you and your pet — from improved nutrition to useful gear that makes movement more enjoyable.
Why This Matters
Moving regularly with a pet combines the proven mental health benefits of exercise with the emotional support animals provide. Dog walking benefits mood, reduces anxiety, and creates daily structure. For many people, sharing activity with a pet increases motivation and makes healthy choices more sustainable.
Whether your goal is to reduce stress, boost energy, sleep better, or simply enjoy more time outdoors, the Minutes That Matter Challenge offers a simple, science-backed approach: move a little every day with a companion who loves you unconditionally.
No Pet? No Problem.
This challenge welcomes everyone. If you don’t have a dog, you can still participate by:
- Walking on your own and inviting a neighbor or friend to join with their pet
- Taking a cat for a stroll in a safe carrier or stroller
- Volunteering at a local shelter to help walk dogs
- Borrowing time with a pet through friends, family, or community programs
The goal is mindful movement and meaningful connection — however that looks for you.
How to Join
Joining the challenge is easy. Sign up on the designated challenge platform to track your minutes throughout May. Use the tracking tools to log walks, hikes, and play sessions so your progress is recorded and eligible for rewards. If you don’t already use a fitness-tracking app, creating an account is usually quick and free.
Every Minute Counts
A tail wag, a breath of fresh air, a few minutes of movement — these moments add up. This May, commit to 250 minutes of activity with your pet and discover the mental health benefits of moving together. Movement is medicine, companionship is healing, and wellbeing is a shared journey.
Ready, set, move! Tag your challenge moments with #MinutesThatMatterChallenge to share your progress and inspire others.